Cashew merchants and exporters in Ogun State have called on President Bola Tinubu, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, and security agencies to intervene in the alleged daily extortion they suffer from security operatives while transporting cashews from farms to warehouses.

The merchants, under the aegis of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, made the appeal on Monday, during a press conference in Abeokuta.

Addressing journalists, the Consultant, Special Duties, Ogun state, Taiwo Akinlabi, alleged that the merchants were subjected to constant harassment and extortion by security agencies along various checkpoints mounted across the state.

Akinlabi said, “Our members are being forced to cough out different amounts of money, depending on the tonnage of the cashew, the mood of those manning the roadblocks and checkpoints which they have turned to business centres or the negotiating power of drivers conveying the goods.”

Akinlabi explained that along the Ilara-Imeko-Obada-Olorunda-Ayetoro-Abeokuta Rounder route alone, there are about 43 checkpoints mounted by various security agencies.

He said, “Along the Ilara – Imeko -Obada-Olorunda- Ayetoro – Abeokuta Rounder road alone, they have mounted about 43 roadblocks, 15 Police checkpoints, three for the Nigerian Army, 19 belong to the Nigerian Customs, the Nigerian Immigration has two and another two were erected by the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service.”

The association lamented that at each checkpoint, merchants were forced to pay between ₦10,000 and ₦50,000 per truck, depending on the tonnage of the cashew.

Akinlabi added, “For example, a truck driver moving 30 tons of Cashew from Ilara in Imeko Afon Local Government Area of the state through Abeokuta, the State capital to a warehouse in Lagos state will have to part with between ₦600,000 and ₦650,000 naira at the multiple checkpoints and roadblocks mounted by both uniformed and non-uniformed persons.”

He lamented that the association had written several letters to relevant government agencies without receiving any response, prompting the decision to speak out publicly.

Akinlabi noted that the harassment was threatening the survival of their businesses despite their significant contribution to the economy.

He said, “Cashew is not a contraband or smuggled product. Save our business from collapsing because of extortion.”

According to him, the association produced 9,500 metric tonnes of cashew last year, contributing almost ₦20bn to the national economy.

He, therefore, appealed to President Tinubu, Governor Abiodun, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi, and other security agencies to intervene.

“We are begging the relevant authorities to look into this problem and put a stop to the trend because extortion is adding to the high cost of transportation of cashews and reducing our production capacity. Many of our members can no longer supply directly to international companies in Lagos and other neighbouring states.”

Reacting to the allegations, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Lanre Ogunlowo, urged the merchants to report directly to his office for intervention.

Ogunlowo said, “Please direct their members in Abeokuta to come to command headquarters.”

Similarly, the spokesperson for the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Capt. Idereghi Akari, asked the association to submit an official complaint.

“Let them write officially to the Brigade then we will investigate it,” Akari said.

A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed the claims as vague, insisting that the state collects statutory taxes on agricultural products.

The official said, “Even though the allegation of this association seems vague because the state has some statutory taxes it must collect on these agricultural products, I will urge them to get in touch with the affected ministries and agencies for reconciliation.”